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Brushing Teeth

Brushing teeth, or, as described by Horace Miner, “a mouth-rite… of inserting a small bundle of og hairs into the mouth, along with certain magical powders, and then moving the bundle in a highly formalized series of gestures”, is a daily routine many people consider monotonous. This bring under scrutiny the daily practices carried out by many, if not most, Americans. The practices Americans carry out every day, like brushing teeth, can be described as barbaric just as Miner did. This barbaric description carries an odd connotation to the practices that are common place in many American lives. With just a change in description, the whole connotation of the practice has been changed. This emphasizes the power of descriptions and the impact they have on the connotation.

When described as a normal practice, brushing teeth seems commonplace. With a barbaric description from Miner, the practice seems very odd, just as ancient rituals sees odd to modern society. This brings up the question of how our practices will be perceived by  anthropologists of the future. Will they be perceived as barbaric and odd, as Miner suggests, or will they be perceived as fascinating and exciting? These questions cannot be answered at this time, and require further insight to ponder. What will these practices reveal about American society? Will they reveal Americans obsession with vanity and health? These questions bring up the point of the legacy of American culture. What do we, as Americans, want to be known for in the far out future? These questions may apply differently to different people, but it certainly makes you think about the future implications of every action.

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